Chris Chelios hasn’t officially retired, but judging by his words
yesterday it’s just about a foregone conclusion that the legendary
defenseman will be hanging up the skates for good this season. From
George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press:

“Hockey’s been in my life so long, I can’t
see myself not being in hockey the rest of my life,” he said. “I think
there’s a position somewhere for me in hockey. If this is the end, I’ve
prepared myself for it.”

“I don’t want to leave Detroit,” he said. “Especially with my
daughter going into her senior year. It’s for me to be home. It’s for me
to sacrifice a little after 26 years.

“As much as kids ignore their parents and act like
they don’t want to be around them, when I show up for their games and I
look in their eyes, they’re pretty fired up and they want me there. It’s
a great feeling as a parent.”

Chelios has spent most of his long career in Detroit, and last year
took off to continue playing hockey in Chicago for the Wolves of the
AHL. He also appeared in seven games with the Atlanta Thrashers,
although it was clear that was far from the great player he once was —
not surprising considering he’s 48 years old.

He is looking to joining the Detroit Red Wings organization in some
capacity and if that isn’t a sign he’s done playing I don’t know what
is. He has two sons that will be playing college hockey together next
year at Michigan State and a daughter in high school — after all these
years I think we can finally say that Chris Chelios is actually going to
retire from the game of hockey.

Even with everything he wants to take care of off the ice, you know
that’s still a tough decision for the man to make.

I hope the Red Wings give him a spot in the organization. He is and always was a class act and he will give tremendous insite to the game no matter where he ends up but I do hope the Red Wings grab him up as we did here in Tampa Bay when Stevie “Y” became available to us. Best of luck no matter what his future holds